George W. Chang
Encyclopedia
George W. Chang is a professor
and a resident faculty member at the University of California-Berkeley. He resides on campus with his wife Abby, while he is currently an Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology
.
, just a few blocks away from the campus where his father worked. He pursued his undergraduate degree in chemistry
at Princeton
, where he lived in the residence halls. George then moved to Berkeley, California
in the 1960s in order to obtain a Ph.D in biochemistry
, completing his doctorate degree in 1967. Initially, Chang was a resident of the international student housing facilities known as the International House, or I-House. In 1964, Chang moved into an apartment on the north side of campus and resided in that area until he became a part of the Residential Faculty Program.
, he works on foodborne illness
and the microbiological safety of food and water supply.
In the late 1980s, Chang discovered that the state-of-the-art method for detecting E. coli
held substantial flaws. The new test, produced by Chang,provided accurate results in a day's time, versus three or four days for the century-old coliform test. Chang and the undergraduate researcher became co-inventors on a patent for "Colitag," and on two patents since.
Chang has taught a seminar class in the past titled "The Freshman Experience." In the seminar, students pick discussion topics, interview fellow students and share their "research" findings in the class on topics ranging from dating and homework to gaining the Freshman 15
and trying to avoid parking tickets. He has also taught Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology 113, which focuses on food microbiology.
In the fall of 2005, Chang and his wife Abby moved into the residence halls at the University of California-Berkeley as a part of the Residential Faculty Program. The program gives free room and board in exchange for eight hours of service a week, and is intended to allow students to better know the faculty. The couple live in a three-bedroom suite in Towle Hall of Unit 2, located on Haste Street. They are often seen walking together to and from the Crossroads dining commons. Chang traditionally wears a hat of some sort, providing the context for his popular saying "If I'm wearing a hat or cap, it's office hours", implying that it is almost always office hours.
Chang eats most meals at the dining hall. He keeps an office in the academic center, holds regular office hours and teaches a t'ai chi class on Sundays for his residence hall neighbors.
Chang is the sponsor for the program Papers with the Prof, as well as other random events throughout the school year. He has hosted a martial arts
movie night in the past. He, along with Unit 1 live-in faculty member Duncan Williams, have appeared at Crossroads during finals week with free muffin tops to students studying for finals. Chang expresses interest in martial arts films, as well as t'ai chi. Chang is an avid traveler and has visited 47 states in the United States, mostly by Greyhound Bus or rail. He is also a fan of auto mechanics, and collects used police cars from auctions, earning him the nickname "Cop Car George".
Chang encourages as many students and residents as possible to add him as a friend on Facebook. He likes to comment on students' Facebook status updates.
, The San Jose Mercury News, and The San Francisco Chronicle. It is not uncommon to see Chang and his wife eating and chatting with students either at Crossroads or the Unit 3 dining commons Cafe 3.
Chang maintains a Youtube
account under the name "newspaperprof", which he uses to upload videos about study tips.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and a resident faculty member at the University of California-Berkeley. He resides on campus with his wife Abby, while he is currently an Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology
Toxicology
Toxicology is a branch of biology, chemistry, and medicine concerned with the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms...
.
Education
George W. Chang is the son of a professor. He was born in Long Island, New York but grew up in New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, just a few blocks away from the campus where his father worked. He pursued his undergraduate degree in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, where he lived in the residence halls. George then moved to Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
in the 1960s in order to obtain a Ph.D in biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
, completing his doctorate degree in 1967. Initially, Chang was a resident of the international student housing facilities known as the International House, or I-House. In 1964, Chang moved into an apartment on the north side of campus and resided in that area until he became a part of the Residential Faculty Program.
UC Berkeley
In 1970, Chang became part of the faculty in the College of Natural Resources. During the 1980s, he served on the campus's Maslach Commission, which made recommendations on improving undergraduates' time at Berkeley. Chang is currently an Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, where he has taught for over 30 years. His concentration is food safety. As a food microbiologistMicrobiologist
A microbiologist is a scientist who works in the field of microbiology. Microbiologists study organisms called microbes. Microbes can take the form of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protists...
, he works on foodborne illness
Foodborne illness
Foodborne illness is any illness resulting from the consumption of contaminated food, pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or parasites that contaminate food, as well as chemical or natural toxins such as poisonous mushrooms.-Causes:Foodborne illness usually arises from improper handling, preparation, or...
and the microbiological safety of food and water supply.
In the late 1980s, Chang discovered that the state-of-the-art method for detecting E. coli
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms . Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some serotypes can cause serious food poisoning in humans, and are occasionally responsible for product recalls...
held substantial flaws. The new test, produced by Chang,provided accurate results in a day's time, versus three or four days for the century-old coliform test. Chang and the undergraduate researcher became co-inventors on a patent for "Colitag," and on two patents since.
Chang has taught a seminar class in the past titled "The Freshman Experience." In the seminar, students pick discussion topics, interview fellow students and share their "research" findings in the class on topics ranging from dating and homework to gaining the Freshman 15
Freshman fifteen
The Freshman fifteen refers to an amount of weight often gained during a student's first year at college.The expression is commonly used in the United States and Canada...
and trying to avoid parking tickets. He has also taught Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology 113, which focuses on food microbiology.
Involvement with Student Life
During the 1980s, Chang served on the campus's Maslach Commission, which made recommendations on improving undergraduates' time at Berkeley. Chang has served on numerous committees, including The Chancellor's Commission to Study the University's Responses to a Diversified Student Body, The Undergraduate Affairs Committee, and the Committee on Courses. Chang long has taken his support for undergraduates to the residence halls, first for many years as a frequent participant in residence-hall guest lectures, faculty dinners and other events. He is often asked to speak at Cal Student Orientation programs.In the fall of 2005, Chang and his wife Abby moved into the residence halls at the University of California-Berkeley as a part of the Residential Faculty Program. The program gives free room and board in exchange for eight hours of service a week, and is intended to allow students to better know the faculty. The couple live in a three-bedroom suite in Towle Hall of Unit 2, located on Haste Street. They are often seen walking together to and from the Crossroads dining commons. Chang traditionally wears a hat of some sort, providing the context for his popular saying "If I'm wearing a hat or cap, it's office hours", implying that it is almost always office hours.
Chang eats most meals at the dining hall. He keeps an office in the academic center, holds regular office hours and teaches a t'ai chi class on Sundays for his residence hall neighbors.
Chang is the sponsor for the program Papers with the Prof, as well as other random events throughout the school year. He has hosted a martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
movie night in the past. He, along with Unit 1 live-in faculty member Duncan Williams, have appeared at Crossroads during finals week with free muffin tops to students studying for finals. Chang expresses interest in martial arts films, as well as t'ai chi. Chang is an avid traveler and has visited 47 states in the United States, mostly by Greyhound Bus or rail. He is also a fan of auto mechanics, and collects used police cars from auctions, earning him the nickname "Cop Car George".
Chang encourages as many students and residents as possible to add him as a friend on Facebook. He likes to comment on students' Facebook status updates.
Papers with the Prof
Chang initiated a program in collaboration with one of the dining commons on site at Berkeley entitled "Papers with the Prof". "Papers with Prof" is a newspaper discussion group hosted at the Crossroads dining commons. Students and other guests at Crossroads are invited to read, mark-up, and discuss the daily selection of newspaper articles subscribed to by Chang. Such papers include The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, The San Jose Mercury News, and The San Francisco Chronicle. It is not uncommon to see Chang and his wife eating and chatting with students either at Crossroads or the Unit 3 dining commons Cafe 3.
Chang maintains a Youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
account under the name "newspaperprof", which he uses to upload videos about study tips.
See also
- University of California, Berkeley student housing
- University of California-Berkeley
- List of University of California, Berkeley alumni
- List of University of California, Berkeley faculty
- Escherichia coliEscherichia coliEscherichia coli is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms . Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some serotypes can cause serious food poisoning in humans, and are occasionally responsible for product recalls...
- Coliform bacteriaColiform bacteriaColiform bacteria are a commonly used bacterial indicator of sanitary quality of foods and water. They are defined as rod-shaped Gram-negative non-spore forming bacteria which can ferment lactose with the production of acid and gas when incubated at 35-37°C...
- Bacteriological water analysis